Treatment of maize for the manufacture of cellulose products.



- 'nNinl srATE FRANCIS L. STEWART, or MURRAYSVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA, AssiGNoR OF ONE-HALF TO SAMUEL GILL, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLYANIAQ i PATENT OF ICE TREATMENT OF MAIZE FOR ,THEMANUFMITURE OF CELLULOSE Pracoucisf,

Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed March 31, 1905. Serial No. 253,188.

anufacture of Cellulose Products, of which the following is a full, clear,"and exact description. I have discovered that b a peculiar process of treatment described erein the Indian corn plant (maize) can be caused to produce pulp and cellulose in greatly-increased quantity, and of much better quality than can be obtained from the plant in its normal and un- 1 treated condition. The treatment to which I subject the plant is the practical applica tion of a'discovery I have made that by preventing the development and ripening of the graina peculiar and abnormal development of the stalk takes place, resultin 'in a largelyincreased quantity of fiber an cellular tissue which is of improved quality and is avail able for use in the manufacture of products of pulp and cellulose. In the practice of my invention this abnormal stalk development may be secured by removing the cars from the stalk of the growing plant while the grain is yet immature, and not later than at the stage of growth when therain is yet in the soft and milky condition, t 1e effect of which is to greatly prolong the life of the plant, as

much as from fifty to seventy-five days, during which the cellulose structure becomes much more fully developed than when the rain is allowed to ripen, making it available for the manufacture'fromit. of pulp and cellulosev products in much larger quantities than from the plant in its .normal condition. The same result, but With the needless sacrifice of the immature grain, is accomplished by sterilizing the plant (maize) either by lop ping off the panicles to the period ofpollination or by a system of close planting for example, the stalks standing three or four inches apart in the rows and the rows about three feet apart-so as to prevent the development of the ears or to make the plants abortive. This treatment is based upon my discovery of a principle or law of development in this plant (maize) by taking advantage of which and treating the growing plant in the spool fled-manner and at the proper time profound functional changes are found to result, oneof Patented Jan. 30, 190.6.

which is an increase in the quantityand an I improvement in the quality ofthe cellular matter and fiber in the stalk. This development sets in immediately after theremoval of the immature car from the stalk or after sterilization has been performed at the proper time, and it must be allowed to continue for a eriod of from thirty to seventyfive days, uring which it is regularly'prm gressive and the condition of the plant becomes greatly modified there being a great increase in the soluble carbohydrates as well as the cellulose. By the discovery of the governing princ'i 1e in this plant which de' termines these 0 anges and by treating the growing plant in the manner prescribed complete control is secured. in causingthis development and the results are constant. Whentreated as above described, there is but little accumulation of silicious matter upon or Within the outershell or coating of thestalk, which' accumulation, if it occurred; would tend to solidify and cement togethera large proportion of the fibers. The whole struc ture of the stalk is therefore softer and of more open texturejhan in the case of stalks grown in the ordinary way.. The relatively small portion of silicious matter 'facilitates impurities by Washing and ressure and renders the after workingof t e fiber easy. It also affords uniformity in the composition of the pulp product because the fiber and cellular tissue enter into it in about the roper proportion to form good paper. In a1 these respects the stalks which have been treated in accordance with my invention are in marked contrast to stalks which have been grown in the ordinary way.

The treatment above described gives the plant an entirely new value, rendering it available for all the uses for which pulp may be employed, as in the manufacture of the manufacture of the hi her grade 0 cellulose, and the production of p roxylin, smokeless powder, celluloid, collo ion, viscose, &c.

After the plant has been treated as above described, and preferably when it has attained the limit of its subsequent growth, I cut it and reduce it to pulp or treat it otherwise in the manner usualin the manufacture the cleansing of the material from soluble of cellulose products, in which treatment the ualities above described render it peculiarly esirablef p 'I claim+ v 1 The methodherein described which consists in growing stalks of maize and prevent ing the formation of ripened ears thereon,

continuing the growth of the stalks beyond the normal period of pollination, and thereby causin a largely-increased development 0 them ular structure, then cutting the stalk and treating it-for the production of cellulose products. V

2. The method herein described which consists in sterilizing the stalks. of maize, contining the growth after such sterilization and thereby causing a largely-increased deve10p-' merit of the cellular structure, then cutting FRANCIS Witnesses:

THOMAS WI BAKEWELL, H. M. CoRwIN. 

